First time grower - stiff deformed growth. Moisture stess?

Hello RIU.

I really need some advice here as I think ive screwed up. Growing two plants and they got similiar problems.

38w/sqft Cob 105w total
2 gallon smart pots (fabric)
Gold Label Special Mix (nutrients)
73-83f (night/day)
Rh 50%
18/6

All the problems started on node 3-4 on both plants. As seen on the picture they have ”cramped” deformed growth, slight cupping on one of them, few copper stain on one leaf, some burnt tips on new growth coming, some leaf slight hook down.

Most noticable for me is that leaves feel different to the touch. Its like they are stiffer, fatter, harder but as seen the leaves arent as wide as the previous ones and looks cramped, or something. Strange difference in the green color in the same leaves.

Ive been really careful with watering and pretty much have had no run off for 2 weeks.

Yesterday, day after watering I bought myself a soil ph meter and put it down in both showing a 5.5ph in both at the bottom.

I then decided to give the already wet soil another gallon each of 6.5ph tap water just trying to run it thru them.

Today they both show around 6.1-6.2 ph in the bottom.

Could this be it? Im so worried because it feels like this symtoms can mean a lot of things. Thing is roots shoot out of the pot like crazy, every last days Ive seen new white tips slughtly poking out of the pots.

Temperature is an issue, I know but they both looked great up until the 3/4th node with just minor twisting in the leaves that I guessed was genetics.

Please help

How high is that light over them?

Ive had similar looking leaves from ph outta wack.

The light could be too close. You pruned it back and the light is hammering the undergrowth which used to be under a fan leaf.

hotrodharley said:

How high is that light over them?

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They sit at 12" above the highest point in the canopy.

Its Vero18s driven at 500mA, 15w per light module.

Looks overwatered. The perlite is tan and with proper wet/dry cycle it should be white.

Also 12” sounds low for a young plant.

MichiganMedGrower said:

Looks overwatered. The perlite is tan and with proper wet/dry cycle it should be white.

Also 12” sounds low for a young plant.

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As long as he has 82 degree temps the extra moisture will be good. I also carefully noted (you failed to do so) that he's in fabric pots. Hard to over water those.

MichiganMedGrower said:

Looks overwatered. The perlite is tan and with proper wet/dry cycle it should be white.

Also 12” sounds low for a young plant.

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They were already wet yesterday when I meassued 5.5ph in the soil and after that I thought a ”leach” could be good so gave them 1 gallon 6.5ph water and today the soil is 6.2.

Also wondered about the perlite, but I thought the light was driven so low I could have them very close, but thats maybe in flower then?

dtrip said:

They were already wet yesterday when I meassued 5.5ph in the soil and after that I thought a ”leach” could be good so gave them 1 gallon 6.5ph water and today the soil is 6.2.

Also wondered about the perlite, but I thought the light was driven so low I could have them very close, but thats maybe in flower then?

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I have never run led so I can’t say for sure about your lights.

I would let them dry out til the pot is very light and then water to good runoff with a mild Grow ratio nute only. Maybe 15-25% max strength.

The runoff will help wash out elements that build up and block the roots from proper uptake.

RetiredGuerilla said:

As long as he has 82 degree temps the extra moisture will be good. I also carefully noted (you failed to do so) that he's in fabric pots. Hard to over water those.

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More variables than that. Humidity and air flow will also determine watering frequency.

When all else fails. I always let the pot dry out and then water to good runoff with a low complete balanced fertilizer.

Sort of re-sets the medium in my experience.

MichiganMedGrower said:

More variables than that. Humidity and air flow will also determine watering frequency.

When all else fails. I always let the pot dry out and then water to good runoff with a low complete balanced fertilizer.

Sort of re-sets the medium in my experience.

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Cannabis enjoys humidity during the first month of life. The young, tender roots need moisture. As long as circulation and exchange of air is good.

RetiredGuerilla said:

Cannabis enjoys humidity during the first month of life. The young, tender roots need moisture. As long as circulation and exchange of air is good.

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I am saying that the humidity affects the watering frequency is all.

Ive done some research on the lights, seen people running same Veros at full strenght 6-8” from the canopy without a problem but I think they talk about full flower.

Also been over my older posts when I built the lights, when I looked at the amazing results from Hans Panel at 70w and people pulling 1g/w easy.

Therefore I pulled the smaller panel and only using 75w 3000k. Not ideal, but not bad either.

This will let me go down to 80f even during the hottest hours of the day.

I have to remember its a small grow. If I would yield 50g in total of these two plants I would be extremely happy. Anything over that would be jaw dropping.

When I think back and read my journal I remember seeing instantly on the plants that I went from 30 to 100w. Leaves pretty much stood up with minor cupping straight at the lights like a fan.

Atleast for now and if/when they recover I might try add it again to see if it happens again.

Havent seen them today yet

Sithlord88 said:

Ive had similar looking leaves from ph outta wack.

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^ I agree with this post

I think next time you check your soil will be low again, separate and take the very last run off-for best reading, I'm not a LED grower but I also have seen that from a pH issue, jmo, good luck!